Virgin Voyages doesn’t do cruise-speak. Guests are Sailors, the cruise director is a cast, and the onboard credit has a pirate’s name. It’s part of the fun, but it can be baffling when you’re booking your first voyage. We’ve spent 100+ nights on board, so here’s our plain-English guide, grouped by topic, with links to our full guides.
You, the ship and the crew
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Sailor | You. Virgin calls its guests Sailors, never passengers. |
| Lady Ships | The fleet: Scarlet, Valiant, Resilient and Brilliant Lady. Which is best? |
| Voyage | A cruise. Virgin doesn’t say cruise much. |
| Mermaiden | A ship’s first ever voyage. Virgin doesn’t do maidens. |
| The Band | The wristband that’s your room key and payment on board. |
| Happenings Cast | Virgin’s entertainers and hosts, instead of a cruise director. They run the parties, games and the Grog Walk. Who they are |
| RockStar Agent | Your personal fixer if you’re in a suite. |
| First Mate | A travel agent registered with Virgin. That’s us: Gold Tier First Mates. |
Money and booking
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Sailor Loot | Onboard credit you can spend on almost anything. Our Sailor Loot guide |
| Bar Tab | Prepaid drinks credit with a bonus on top. Virgin’s answer to a drinks package. How the Bar Tab works |
| VoyageFair Choices | The three fare levels, Base, Essential and Premium. Fares explained |
| Lock It In rate | A cheaper fare where Virgin chooses your cabin for you. |
| MNVV | My Next Virgin Voyage, the offer you buy on board for your next sailing. MNVV explained |
| Future Voyages | The desk on Deck 7 (it used to be called Get Lost) where you buy your MNVV. |
| Sailing Club | Virgin’s loyalty scheme, with Blue Extras and Deep Blue Extras. Sailing Club guide |
| Sea Blazers | Sailors from Virgin’s first year, who have their own perks. |
| Level Upgrade | Virgin’s bid-for-an-upgrade scheme. |
Cabins
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Insider | An inside cabin. Insider guide |
| Sea View | An ocean-view cabin with a window, no balcony. |
| Sea Terrace | A balcony cabin, usually with the red hammock. Comes in Limited View, standard, Central and XL. Sea Terrace guide |
| RockStar Quarters | Virgin’s suites, with perks such as priority boarding and a RockStar Agent. |
| Mega RockStar Quarters | The biggest suites, with drinks included in-suite. |
| Sea mode | Your cabin’s day setting, when the bed folds up into a sofa so you’ve got room to lounge. |
Eating and drinking
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| The Galley | The food hall. There’s no buffet on Virgin. How The Galley works |
| ShipEats | Room service, ordered in the app. ShipEats guide |
| The Roundabout | The bar and hangout space at the heart of the ship. |
| The Manor | The nightclub, home to the late-night parties. |
| Draught Haus | The craft beer bar. |
| Bottomless Brunch | Paid unlimited drinks with your (included) brunch. Is it worth it? |
| Shake for Champagne | The button in the Virgin app that sends a bottle of fizz your way, wherever you are on board. |
Parties and events
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Scarlet Night | The big themed party night, with everyone in red. |
| PJ Party | The first-night pyjama party. |
| Grog Walk | The hosted bar crawl, and the best way to make friends on board. Is it worth it? |
| Sailaway | The party on deck as the ship leaves port on embarkation day. |
Ashore and wellness
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Shore Things | Virgin’s shore excursions. |
| The Beach Club at Bimini | Virgin’s private beach club in the Bahamas, on Caribbean sailings from Miami. |
| Terminal V | Virgin’s own terminal in Miami. Sailing from Miami |
| Redemption Spa | The spa, including the Thermal Suite. Spa prices |
The terms that matter most when booking
If you only learn five, make it these: Sea Terrace (the cabin we recommend), VoyageFair Choices (which fare you’re on), Sailor Loot (free money to spend on board), Bar Tab (pre-buy your drinks with a bonus) and MNVV (how you save on the next one). Everything else you’ll pick up on the ship within a day.
Ready for the next step? Our first things to do after booking guide walks you through the app, the Bar Tab and restaurant bookings.
Book your Virgin voyage with us
New to Virgin? We’ll explain all of this on a quick call and find the right ship, cabin and fare for you.
We’re award-winning Virgin Voyages Gold Tier First Mates with 100+ nights on board, located in the heart of Newport. Call or WhatsApp 07307 602030, or get a free quote. See our bonus Sailor Loot when you book with us.